Editorial: Not everything should be privatised

Namibia should welcome private investment where it expands capacity, introduces expertise and relieves pressure on public finances, but this should not translate into automatically opening strategic national assets to private ownership without considering the long-term consequences for the country. Electricity transmission sits at the heart of national security and economic activity, which means any decision to allow private companies to own or operate parts of the network must carefully consider who controls critical infrastructure, how tariffs are determined and whether the public interest remains adequately protected. Government's caution over Independent Transmission Companies is therefore understandable, although NamPower cannot rely solely on its status as the national utility to justify retaining control of transmission infrastructure. NamPower must demonstrate that it can expand the grid when required, connect new generation projects without unnecessary delays and provide reliable, competitively priced electricity when the economy needs it, particularly as mining, oil and gas, green hydrogen and other industries increase demand. Private investment inevitably becomes more attractive when the state cannot provide infrastructure at the required pace, which is why this debate should balance the protection of strategic assets with the performance expected from the public enterprises entrusted with them. State control must ultimately be justified by the ability to deliver.